traveling with a larger lens

[jimim]

This Nov we are going back to the world and I'm finally going to have the canon 70-200mm 2.8. Am I crazy to take this. All my other trips I have used my 17-55mm 2.8 and have been real happy but at times wanted to just have more zoom.

I know I'm just asking for opinions but I value those. Is it going to just be too heavy to lug around? Is it worth it for those times I wish I had it?

OK now something else to boot. . . I'm shooting on a 7d so 1.6 crop factor. . . Do any of u guys take fixed lens with u? I am thinking of taking the 24mm L and the 50mm L. Again u think it's worth it for the increase in sharpness I can get as compared to the 17-55mm 2.8? I never went on a trip with just 2 fixed lens. Anyone ever do it or will I regret it with how dynamic Disney is?

Thanks so much again I know these are real blanket questions but I just want to hear some dialogue to get me thinking. I don't have the 70-200mm yet. I'm going to buy it next month. I have shot with a friends and it is heavy.

thanks alot everyone,
jim

 

[alloyd1170]

I took my Canon 100-400 to Hollywood Studios, just for Fantasmic. I lugged it around all day in a waist pack along with the 50 f/1.4. While it got heavy later in the day, it wasn't a huge problem. I carried my 7D with the Tamron 18-270 out and ready to go. I didn't ride Tower of Terror or Rock n Roller coaster, so no worries there.

The only other time I might consider lugging it would be for Animal Kingdom. Otherwise, the 270 reach on the Tamron was enough for me.

If you're going to use the lens for a particular ride/show, etc. you could store it in a locker until you need it. I thought about doing that, but being Spring Break, the time it would take for me to weave through the crowds to get it and back to Fantasmic wasn't worth the effort.

 

[photo_chick]

I shoot on a 50D. I only took my old Canon 70-210 f/4 (which is pretty heavy by today's standards) to Animal Kingdom this last trip and I don't even think I'll do that next time. But I use a 28-105 for my walkaround lens. I did keep my 50mm f/1.8 and my 8mm fisheye on me a lot of the time, too.

 

[DisDiva2]

If you need anyone to hold on to it for you just let me know! LOL

 

[MICKEY88]

This Nov we are going back to the world and I'm finally going to have the canon 70-200mm 2.8. Am I crazy to take this. All my other trips I have used my 17-55mm 2.8 and have been real happy but at times wanted to just have more zoom.

I know I'm just asking for opinions but I value those. Is it going to just be too heavy to lug around? Is it worth it for those times I wish I had it?

OK now something else to boot. . . I'm shooting on a 7d so 1.6 crop factor. . . Do any of u guys take fixed lens with u? I am thinking of taking the 24mm L and the 50mm L. Again u think it's worth it for the increase in sharpness I can get as compared to the 17-55mm 2.8? I never went on a trip with just 2 fixed lens. Anyone ever do it or will I regret it with how dynamic Disney is?

Thanks so much again I know these are real blanket questions but I just want to hear some dialogue to get me thinking. I don't have the 70-200mm yet. I'm going to buy it next month. I have shot with a friends and it is heavy.

thanks alot everyone,
jim

I carry 2 bodies, one with my 28-75 2.8 lens, the other with my 80-200 2.8 lens. a good strap can make the wight less burdensome, I have the optech dual harness for carrying 2 cameras, it makes things very comfortable for me.

 

[Gianna'sPapa]

I normally carry 3 lenses in my backpack and obviously one on the camera. My walkaround around is my 28-70 f2.8, my zoom is the 70-200 f2.8, my lowlight prime is the 30 f1.4 and my wide angle is my 18-55 "kit" lens. The 30 and kit are very light. That's what I start the week with, as I get my "shots", I will wean that down. By the end of the week, I'm usually done with the 70-200 and may bring the very light 50-200 in its place. The 70-200 is an essential lens in my kit because of its low light capability and zoom. Besides AK, I use it for the outside shows in front of the castle and sometimes inside shows when I'm seated in the back rows. I won't leave home without it! The only thing I would recommend is a good camera strap.

 

[pointandshoot]

I've done it. It is a pain. I use my 70-200 f2.8 for sport and low light shots. Since I will carry a fast prime into the parks, it covers what I need at Disney without the extra weight for low light. Unless you have a specific situation you think you might use it for, I would not take it.

It is not to say I will never do it again. If I am on a trip to Disney by myself, no ohana, intention to relax and shoot pictures, it will likely be with me. If I am with my family, it is a boat anchor around my neck that will be a pain on Splash and make my shoulder hurt by end of day.

I have carried my 100-400 and 400 f5.6 to AK and found it worth my time. I am thinking of adding a 300mm zoom into the kit to cut some weight and still give me reach for AK.

Chuck

 

[MarkBarbieri]

My 70-200 f/2.8 is my favorite Disney lens. I take it on every trip.

 

[jimim]

Wow everyone thanks for that so far. I knew I was going to get answers all over the board, but it makes me think. I looked back at my Dec trip. Didn't look at July cause it was so damn hot I didn't even carry a camera for the last 4 days! Most of my shots are at the 37mm (55mm fullframe) range. I have a baby girl (22months now) and it seems like everything I shoot is of her with characters and just observing and it seems like, seriously, 90% of my 150 final pics were shot at 37mm (55 fullframe) with my 17-50mm 2.8. Thinking back there are only the times of the castle or on the safari that I wished I had something longer. It might not be for me with the stage of my life I'm in right now.

This trip we are going with my 7 year old nephew for the first time so I know I will be shooting alot of stuff wide with him and Kate and prob portrait shots at parades and stuff.

This actually might be the perfect trip to just go fixed with a 24mm and 50mm might be a good idea.

I would love to carry a bunch of lens but I just don't think it's going to happen with the baby. I got to keep the bag small. I wish I can just use my 3 million dollar house, but I know I'm going to be with at least 2 lens so I will use my domke small saddle bag. I really don't think I can handle more than 2 with the baby, even though there is my wife and sister-in-law and brother-in-law to help out.

jimi

Any thoughts?

I have a great tamrac strap BTW for the 70-200mm when I actually get it and am using it. I love my strap. Except on hot days!

Thanks again all,
jimi

 

[cpbjgc]

I have one thought to offer on whether to go just with prime lenses instead of your 17-50 lens. If you are planning character meals, you might miss having nothing wider than the 24mm when shooting in a restaurant where it is hard to zoom with your feet. I just did a quick check on character shots I did last trip with my 8 year old daughter and 14 year old son, and most of mine (especially restaurant ones) were at 17 mm (I have a Sigma 17-70 lens). I know your review showed you shooting more at 37 mm, but the composition and framing may change up a bit where there is a 7 year old in the shots.

Whatever you decide, have fun!

 

[FargoBear]

I love shooting Disney/Universal and brought all my camera gear on my trip in May. The only regret is that I had an over-the-shoulder bag. I think I'd invest in some sort of backpack if I had to do it again, just to redistribute the weight better.

 

[jimim]

I have one thought to offer on whether to go just with prime lenses instead of your 17-50 lens. If you are planning character meals, you might miss having nothing wider than the 24mm when shooting in a restaurant where it is hard to zoom with your feet. I just did a quick check on character shots I did last trip with my 8 year old daughter and 14 year old son, and most of mine (especially restaurant ones) were at 17 mm (I have a Sigma 17-70 lens). I know your review showed you shooting more at 37 mm, but the composition and framing may change up a bit where there is a 7 year old in the shots.

Whatever you decide, have fun!

I hear ya. I was thinking that also. We went to Knoebles last weekend and I was just organizing my shots and noticed I was shooting much wider when with Collin and Kate. I just took my 17-50 that day cause I really didn't feel like carrying stuff with me.

I know there is no wrong or right answer with this. Right now my head is wrapped around my 17-50 and my 50mm L. My Tokina 11-17mm is deff coming with me also. I might just stick with what I know best and keep the 17-50 on for moving around the park. use my 50mm for parades at night to get the extra needed f stops for darkness. i usually don't need any further of a zoom for them. and my tokina for when I want to play if I'm on my own for a little (which I hope I can do when we go to epcot).

jimi

 

[jimim]

I love shooting Disney/Universal and brought all my camera gear on my trip in May. The only regret is that I had an over-the-shoulder bag. I think I'd invest in some sort of backpack if I had to do it again, just to redistribute the weight better.

i used to use a backpack but I always felt it was too bulky for getting on and off rides. any ideas for something pretty streamlined to carry my body and lets say 3 lens. i've been happy with my domke saddlebag. it's pretty lowprofile but deff only holds my body and one other lens that isn't huge.

jimi

 

[FargoBear]

I was probably leaning toward getting something like this.

http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/produ...LP35186_PEU_Flipside_300_Backpack_Arctic.html

Some of the reviews indicate you can fit a DSLR and a 70-200 L lens plus a couple other lenses and maybe a flash. That'd be the extent of what I would want to walk around with during the day anyway.

Keep people posted on what you get if you buy something. I'm always interested to see what others are using to store and haul their gear most efficiently.

 

[jimim]

I was probably leaning toward getting something like this.

http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/produ...LP35186_PEU_Flipside_300_Backpack_Arctic.html

Some of the reviews indicate you can fit a DSLR and a 70-200 L lens plus a couple other lenses and maybe a flash. That'd be the extent of what I would want to walk around with during the day anyway.

Keep people posted on what you get if you buy something. I'm always interested to see what others are using to store and haul their gear most efficiently.

I will. Man I bought those 2 domke bags last year for Disney and daily use. I thought I was done. And now back to the backpack search. It never ends. I must say I really like my domke saddle bags.

Thanks for the link. I'm going to check it out now.

jimi